A statement issued by a member of the Board, Mrs. Ivy Austin, said: “The action of the workers is unfortunate and unwarranted, as neither the board nor the management has failed or refused to engage with the workers through the Union representatives to find solutions to the issues or concerns being raised.”

“As a matter of fact, negotiations are on-going between management and leaders of the union. It is therefore unfortunate that whilst negotiations are on-going, the workers are resorting to a strike action without any notice to management as required by the Labour Act,” the statement added.

Background

Staff of the Corporation which manages, the Ghanaian Times Newspaper embarked on a demonstration on Monday in protest of their working conditions and also prevented management from entering their offices.

The workers among other things demanded an increment in their salaries arguing that they have been denied such increases for the past five years.

Further to these demands, also called for the immediate removal of the Managing Director of the Corporation, Carol Annang over what they describe as her poor managerial skills.

They accused her of reneging on her promise of revamping the institution.

We have confidence in Management

Meanwhile, the board further in the statement expressed confidence in the management of the Corporation in resolving the current row.

“The Board of Directors wish to reiterate its commitment to ensuring a cordial working environment. The Board further wish to state that it has full confidence in the management of New Times Corporation in resolving the matter. We therefore call on the leaders of the union to use the required processes to resolve the issues than resorting to industrial action,” the statement added.

ICU backs Ghanaian Times workers’ protest

In a related development, the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), has backed the protest by staff of New Times Corporation.

Speaking to Citi News, the General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union, Solomon Kotei, in solidarity with the aggrieved workers said the demonstration is in the right direction.

He explained that what triggered the protest is that “last year [2017] when we came to negotiate [salaries and allowances], management were pleading and telling us all stories and an unprecedented move, [the] workers to management to give them just three percent of their salaries.”

“With this pinch of insult we didn’t even collect a back pay, and we took that hoping that this year, things will organize for us. Then from nowhere we were told of a rebranding of the paper. We thought it will bring some efficiency and profitability to this particular arrangement only for us to surrender to our main competitor.  And as our main competitor to do the printing for us and on a daily basis we don’t pay less than GH17,300, and how much are we making at Times.”

Give us 20%

Mr. Kotei said all they are saying is that “…we are sacrificing every other item on our condition of service; let’s only look at the salary that has been in arrears for many years. This has not been done and once we are asking that give us 20% and let’s live on.”

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Ghanaian Times workers’ protest ‘unwarranted’ – Board appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Staff of the Corporation embarked on a demonstration on Monday in protest of their working conditions, and also prevented their management from entering their offices.

The workers among other things demanded an increment in their salaries arguing that they have been denied such increases for the past five years.

Further to these demands, they also called for the immediate removal of the Managing Director of the Corporation, Carol Annang, over what they describe as her poor managerial skills.

They also accused her of reneging on her promise of revamping the institution.

Demo in right direction

Speaking to Citi News, the General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union, Solomon Kotei, in solidarity with the aggrieved workers said the demonstration is in the right direction.

He explained that what triggered the protest is that “last year  [2017] when we came to negotiate [salaries and allowances], management were pleading and telling us all stories and an unprecedented move, [the] workers to management to give them just three percent of their salaries.”

“With this pinch of insult we didn’t even collect a back pay, and we took that hoping that this year, things will organize for us. Then from nowhere we were told of a rebranding of the paper. We thought it will bring some efficiency and profitability to this particular arrangement only for us to surrender to our main competitor.  And as our main competitor to do the printing for us and on a daily basis we don’t pay less than GH17,300, and how much are we making at Times.”

Give us 20%

Mr. Kotei said all they are saying is that “…we are sacrificing every other item on our condition of service; let’s only look at the salary that has been in arrears for many years. This has not been done and once we are asking that give us 20% and let’s live on.”

“Someone will ask 20% of what? Our basic pay is among the lowest we can find in this country. And besides this, people resign and their end of service benefits are not been paid to them. People die and their next of kins are walking here up and down and nothing is being done to them. But yet they find themselves the effrontery to buy themselves vehicles and give themselves over 11 allowances that are paid in the midst of this crisis,” he added.

ICU to engage Labour Ministry

Mr. Kotei however assured that the grievances of the workers will be tabled before the sector Minister for immediate action.

“The issues that we have at hand are such that we will catalogue the issues and take them to the sector Minister as it stands now. We are not putting ourselves before the Labour Commission because we know the structures of this particular enterprise. We will now sit down and allow one person to see the demise of this great institution. What we see as the mismanagement is for us to have a big company like Times and we have only two products. Besides, the Times and Spectator nothing is there for us again,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post ICU backs Ghanaian Times workers’ protest appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The workers who were in red apparels also prevented the management members of the firm from entering their offices.

They also demanded the removal of their Managing Director, Carol Annang, who they accused of worsening their plight in the last few months.

Chairperson of the Professional and Managerial Staff Union of ICU, Diana Boasu, who spoke to Citi News’ Anass Seidu, explained that their working conditions have become “poor and continue to worsen especially during the latter part of the year.”

“We are protesting for better working conditions. They [workers] have seen that since the assumption of duty [of the current MD], things have become worse. They haven’t seen any progress, all the promises she gave to New Times Corporation, have not seen the light of day. She promised better conditions and said she will try and revamp the place, but we haven’t seen anything like that. All that we see is the purchasing of things outside the remit of the procurement law. We think she is trying to render others [workers] useless,” she added.

Some of the aggrieved workers also told Anass Seidu that they have been stripped of some allowances and benefits they use to enjoy including leave allowances and promotions.

“Now when your promotion is due, they will tell you that it is not compulsory. And also we are being denied our fuel and transport allowances. Most of us qualify for the allowances but they have decided not to give us. They claim there is no money, meanwhile they continue to take their fuel and maintenance allowances,” one of the workers said.

Another worker also said they are being denied their healthcare insurance.

“In the past, we were being catered for by the Holy Trinity Hospital for our healthcare, but they [Management of the New Times Corporation] said they can’t cater for it so we should go to government hospital. Later they said 37 Military hospital and Cocoa clinic. A colleague was sick, he went to Cocoa clinic but was turned away because there was no bed and it was the same story at the 37 Military hospital. There are a lot of things happening now in the Corporation that need to be rectified,” a worker at the Corporation fume.

Alleged rot at Ghanaian Times

Meanwhile, Citi News sources say the company isn’t as profitable as it used to be, and that the new MD is only seeking to take drastic decisions that will help them survive.

There are reports of corrupt practices that has affected it’s profitability, hence attempts by the new MD to streamline the system, a change the workers are resisting.

Ghanaian Times, which is one of the national newspapers after Daily Graphic, is not as popular in recent years, and it is not one of the most preferred newspapers.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Ghanaian Times staff lock management out over conditions of service [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.